November 2, 2018

Many citizens have found the questions on the November 6 ballot about the changes to the Jackson County Charter to be confusing. We reached out to our county legislators and asked for them to help us understand and so far have received only one reply, from Third District Legislator Tony Miller. We are thankful that he pointed us to a page on his website where he writes:

"I have been fielding questions from my constituents about the Charter
Amendment Questions that will be on the ballot on November 6, 2018. I
encourage people to consider these proposed changes in the context of
public policy and not personality. I will be voting “No” on these
questions, as presented, for many reasons. Although I respect my
colleagues who have pushed these proposals, I do not think these
amendments, if adopted, are in the public interest for many substantive
reasons. Here are a few for consideration:

-Should elected officials give themselves pay raises and how much will it cost tax payers?

-Should the Legislature be limiting who can run for office, generally, other than fitness for office questions?

-Should the Legislature be term limiting people like the Prosecutor and Sheriff when continuity is important in law enforcement?

-Should the Legislature keep people from other levels of government
from running for County offices, but exclude themselves from this
prohibition?

-Should the Legislature take powers away from the Executive branch such as taking away the Line Item Veto from the Executive?

-Should the Legislature make it easier to fire the County Counselor?

The most effective way for me to communicate with folks about the
proposed amendments is to post the documents themselves as you will find
below. Read the ordinance that shows the actual changes to the Charter
and then compare what will actually happen to the Charter to how the
questions are presented on the ballot. Well intentioned people might go
into the voting booth thinking that they are doing one thing, and end
up doing something completely different. You don’t have to take my word
for it though. Have a look for yourself:

November 1, 2018

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ: (Kansas City voters click here for information -- the
following is for Independence/Eastern Jackson County Voters)
As of this writing, the weather forecast for Election Day shows a high temperature of 52° with a chance of rain. The ballot is very long, taking 10 to 20+ minutes to complete. If standing in line outside of a polling place for a long period of time will be a problem for you, or if you won't be in town on Election Day please cast an Absentee Ballot as soon as possible.
Absentee voting is taking place at the Jackson County Election Board at 215 N. Liberty on the Independence Square on Friday and Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.
There's been a tremendous turnout for absentee voting according to workers -- expect
to wait in line inside the building (but the line moves quickly). Must have
ID. KANSAS CITY VOTERS PLEASE VISIT https://www.kceb.org/ FOR ABSENTEE VOTING LOCATIONS.

October 9, 2018

Photos from yesterday's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Fairmount's Blendwell Community Cafe, a coffee cafe and meeting place located in the newly renovated building that once housed the Standard State Bank. For more information visit www.blendwellcafe.com

BlendWell Community Cafe Manager Ana Reyes

Community Services League Chief Innovation Officer Mark O'Renick
with Independence City Councilman John Perkins

Good things to eat for the scores of community leaders
and citizens who attended the event

Missouri State Senator John Rizzo with
Independence City Councilman John Perkins

Community Services League President and CEO Doug Cowan
thanks the community leaders who helped make the BlendWell Community Cafe a reality

September 14, 2018

Fifty immigrants from more than 20 countries took the Naturalization
Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America at the Truman Library
today and became U.S. Citizens. The Van Horn Choir performed the song
"Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears" at the close of the ceremony. (Photos by Joe Calton for the Inter-City News)

July 31, 2018

Missouri is falling behind the rest of the country. We’ve lost many companies here in the Kansas City area including Harley Davidson and Procter & Gamble. St. Louis ranks as the second most dangerous city in the United States and Kansas City is high on the list too. The cost of health care is outrageous and our legislature passed up on Medicaid money from the federal government for political reasons. Our leaders in Jefferson City are not paying attention to these issues and until recently, were focused upon ousting the former Governor.

What has been done about our roads? We have the 46th lowest gas taxes in the country and our roads show it. The bridge repairs around Independence are a start be we have a long way to go. Did you know that 24 Highway runs from Colorado, through Independence, and all the way to Detroit? This major thoroughfare through our city needs to be updated. Voters will have a chance to vote on a 10¢ gas increase in November.

Holmes Osborne is a candidate for state representative in the 21st District. The current state representative, Ira Anders, has done a wonderful job but is termed out and cannot run again. Holmes was born in Independence, raised in Bates City, the father of two young daughters who attend our wonderful public schools. His mother taught at Palmer Middle School in the 1970s and his father is a retired member of the AFL-CIO. The election is August 7, 2018. There is a three-way contest in the Democratic primary with no Republican running. In addition, if you like unions, vote “No” on Proposition A, the Right-to-Work initiative.

Candidates please send your submissions to editor@inter-citynews.com and they will be published in the order in which they are received.

I have enjoyed living in this community my entire life and being able to raise our four boys here has been a wonderful blessing. Although I have lived mostly in the southwestern part of Independence, I believe all of the areas of the 3rd District are of equal importance. I will do whatever I can to try and achieve equal funding for safe neighborhoods.

For the county as a whole, the Jackson County jail conditions must improve and we must stop the hidden costs of lawsuits draining the County budget. I will work to help formulate a comprehensive jail plan to provide safer conditions, reduce overtime, and reduce lawsuits. To meet the needs of Jackson County, it is important to strengthen the working relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches of government. To help make that happen, I will strive to find a satisfactory compromise between two often extreme differences in position.

I believe it is important to return to local control of the Jackson County Property Assessment Department. Due to being understaffed, the department must currently rely on expensive outside consultants to complete its responsibilities. I will support fully staffing the department to achieve an independent operation that provides fair assessments on residential and commercial real estate property.

There are clearly opportunities to improve the way our County manages taxpayer funds. I am not a career politician, but I do have years of accounting and business experience that will help me bring a fresh perspective to tackling the critical issues facing Jackson County.

Although it may be difficult for a County Legislator to make a difference for a specific part of our community, I will certainly try and help the Inter-City area. We all need good schools and safe neighborhoods.

You can count on me to do my best to serve you. I ask for your vote on August 7th.

Thank you,

Charlie FranklinCandidates please send your submissions to editor@inter-citynews.com and they will be published in the order in which they are received.

March 28, 2018

Sugar Creek voters have a decision to make next week about the future of our city. This is the second municipal election in two years. There will not be another election for three more years. Two new candidates were elected last year. The results of this election will determine the road that Sugar Creek travels for at least 3 more years.

Do we want to elect the incumbents that want to take us down the dead-end road we have been on for years? One of those candidates voted to continue funding “Wayne City Landing Days” that cost Sugar Creek about $60,000 when it was clear that the event was going to fail. The two incumbents favor spending as much as $1,500,000 to remodel the existing gym. Would it not be logical to complete a more modest remodel and use the balance of available funds for infrastructure improvements?

Several area gyms have closed in the last few years because not enough memberships could be sold in our locality. I believe the proposed management plan will fail and drain resources away from vital city services. Several years ago the voters of Sugar Creek voted against spending a similar amount of money to remodel the old post office. It seems clear to me that voters do not want to fund this type of facility. The gym needs some TLC that can be completed for far less treasure than the present plan.

I believe that Sugar Creek’s governing body has been inside the box for too long. It is time for a change to younger members with new ideas and progressive goals. The city needs to move forward with new leadership on the board and a plan for the future. I believe that Chris Steffen in Ward 1 and Michael Schneller in Ward 2 are the ones to bring about this change and are committed to moving Sugar Creek in a new and better direction.

March 26, 2018

Independence Tax Question 1 on the April 3rd ballot asks us to impose a New “Local Use Tax”. The City is not up-front on the fact that If Question 1 passes, only Independence residents will pay more for all Online purchases. We have not been told nor does the ballot state what exactly will be taxed. What does “Local Use Tax” mean? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_tax.

The ballot language is Confusing and Deceptive. The City has not defined the exact need for this New Tax. Further, there is No explanation on the ballot of how this tax will be collected or enforced. The ballot does not state exactly where the money will go. If passed, this “Use Tax” can be raised without your vote. It will never end (no renewal date).

This is an Unnecessary New Tax. There is no logical explanation for more taxes! The City has a 291 million dollar budget, 6 special sales taxes (Fire, Police, Streets, Parks, Tourism and Storm Water taxes), a long list of fees for City services, 4 million a year income from fines and court costs, ever increasing real estate and property taxes, added taxes on our utility bills and a sales tax rate as high as 8.85%. Moreover, the City receives an undisclosed amount of grants from our Federal and State taxes.

We recently passed tax increases for Police and Fire. How can a “Local Use Tax “be needed for these departments now? The City asks us for more taxes about every other year. Isn’t it time to encourage the City to live within its budget like we have too?

Tell the City that you don’t want them to tax you in the privacy of your home while shopping online. Vote NO on NEW TAX Question 1.

March 20, 2018

The Inter-City News reached out to the candidates running for two At-Large seats on the Independence City Council. We are publishing them here in the order in which they were received.

From Brice Stewart:

I decided to run for city council because with my background in Law-Enforcement as well as working within a government agency for many years; I feel I can bring positive ideas to the city.

I believe I represent the everyday resident of the city. My father is a retired truck driver and my mother retired from the medical field. I grew up on a farm in a very rural area and learned the value of hard work at a very young age. I live in a $70,000 dollar house in the Susquehanna area. You do not get much more “blue collar” than me.

I do not feel the council is representing the needs of the residents. I believe that certain individuals are more concerned about other initiatives than the crime, drug and blight problem.

I would like to see the city more concerned about the previously listed items than rather or not an eighteen year old can purchase cigarettes. This is only one example of government over reach that has occurred in the city and there are others.

My priorities would be jobs, crime and economic development. If we can bring in more jobs through economic development it will help reduce certain crimes.

I have worked for Jackson County, MO since the year 2000 in the Information Technology Department in addition to that I served for many years in Law-Enforcement with three years of that as a Chief of Police.

Beyond that I care deeply for this community and want it to thrive, I feel that more than anything qualifies me to hold a City Council seat.

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From Karen Deluccie:

I want the city to take care of basic city services and not unduly interfere in our citizen's lives. For example, I am very focused on "livability" in our town. I want our town to look as good as it possibly can look and to be as safe as it can possibly be. Therefore, I worked with others in shortening the time the city takes in handling building code/trash complaints. I supported increased funding in the code compliance department to increase our ability to be responsive to the citizen's concerns. We moved lots of money into the building codes department both to add staff (which shortens the time the city takes in responding to complaints) and to tear down buildings that need to be torn down. I supported the concept of the city suing landowners who have the financial ability to fix their property or tear down their dangerous property but chose not to do so. (I am tired having a tax lien placed on the property and hoping we will get paid when the property sells at a tax sales.) I supported the use of council goal funds to install sidewalks where none were located and to repair sidewalks that had fallen in disrepair.

I voted against the "rental ready" program for a few different reasons. I believe that the program treats renters differently than homeowners. Why is it not an unreasonable search of my home to make me allow an agent of the city to come in to inspect my home? If that inspection is not an unreasonable search in violation of the US Constitution, then is the next step a government agent coming into homes that are owned by citizens and not just rented by citizens? Second, I believe that the city should focus on policing of the outside of the rental properties and, once that is successfully accomplished, then we can look at asking for voluntary internal inspections of rental properties.

I am focused on examining the city expenses and income. I want to be sure that we are making the most efficient use of every dollar that we spend. I read everything that is put in front of me and ask questions if I do not understand something. I will continue to do this focused examination.

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From Mike Huff:

I am a proud third generation resident of Independence, MO. I attended Independence's schools K-12, married and raised a family, and worked here most of my life. After graduating from William Chrisman High School, I went to work at Armco Steel which was on the decline cutting production and I was fortunate to land a job as janitor at Independence Power and Light. I worked long and hard hours for a career with IPL first as janitor, progressing to Journeyman Lineman, then a Lineman Superintendent, and finally the Transmission and Distribution Manager. I retired after being blessed with 34 years of service to IPL and the Independence community we serve.

I am married with two children and one grandson.

I enjoyed serving the residents of my hometown while working with IPL. I gained valuable experience and knowledge on how this city operates. I dealt with budget issues, power generation, power distribution, and the billing process. I was the project manager on the new operations building and understand how team work is needed to solve problems to better service the Independence taxpayer ... our true boss.

It is imperative that we have safe schools, safe neighborhoods, and safe streets to have the kind of city that draws businesses to create jobs and families to make Independence home. I will support our police and give them the tools they need to keep our community safe.

The Northwest part of Independence is always promised development and renewal while a large share of the budget goes to the expanding business districts in the Southeast. We cannot ignore the need to provide a fair share of the budget to the Western part of town. Blight is also a problem that should not have boundaries. We must do better at stopping blight and removing eyes sores that hurt our property values and looks bad to visitors.

Rental Ready is an issue I don’t support as it stands now. I believe in inspection of rental units but not when people are living in a rental. If the City can invade the privacy of a renter, is a homeowner next? I do believe inspection is appropriate when the rental unit is empty before a new tenant moves in. I would like to amend the program to protect renter’s right of privacy.

I am concerned that Independence Power and Light is dependent on outside electrical power generation. We need our plant to be configured to produce our own power at peak demand. Depending on outside supply makes us vulnerable to any weather related crisis that could cut power off for days. I want Independence to be prepared for a loss of power from any outside provider.

I am not supporting the Local Use Tax. I believe we must do better at getting the most for our tax dollars now and not over-burden citizens with more taxes. We must do better brainstorming at creating a unique cottage industry and attracting larger corporations to our area.

Independence is a great place to live, raise a family and have a job. I have a wealth of hands-on experience and knowledge of our city government. I have the time and heartfelt desire to give back to my city and look forward to the opportunity to serve for a better future and prosperity for all.
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We received no reply from the write-in candidate Matt Medley.

The Inter-City News would like to thank these candidates for reaching out to our readers.

March 18, 2018

Voting in April of 2016, the Mayor and City Council raised their salaries to nearly double effective April, 2018. Because a sitting City Council can't raise their own pay, the salary increases will take effect this year, just a few weeks after the city will ask voters to approve a new "use tax" for most purchases made online.

Election Day for the tax vote is Tuesday, April 3.

This April, Mayor Weir will begin receiving $40,000 a year and
City Councilpersons will get $20,000 each per year. All will be given a $500 per
month car allowance. As is the current policy, those salaries will
increase by $500 automatically every 4 years. During her first term in
office, Mayor Weir earned $29,999 and members of the Council received,
on average, $11,500.

The 2016 vote to raise salaries was close. Incumbent candidate for an At-Large seat in the April election, Karen DeLuccie, voted against the pay raise citing raised service fees, unfunded positions and other city employees she believed deserved raises. The 2016 City Council passed the pay raise by a vote of 4-3, with Mayor Weir voting in favor. It was made clear at the time that the pay raises could be rescinded in the event that the economic situation in 2018 was not as optimistic as they were expecting it to be.

At the City Council meeting on March 5 of this year Lucy Young, a former At-Large Councilperson elected three times between 1998 and 2010, addressed the City Council and spoke at length about the financial problems facing the city, citing the Bass Pro Shop TIFF and questioning the logic and cost of building the new Farmer's Market at its chosen location. She said that pay for elected city representatives was kept where it was to prevent councilpersons from becoming "career politicians" and asked that a motion be made to rescind the upcoming pay raises.

After Young spoke, Mayor Weir thanked her and asked the members of the Council for comments. The subject was quickly changed and Ms. Young's comments were not addressed in any way No motion was made to rescind the upcoming pay raise.

Does the Hometown of Harry Truman and Queen City of the Three Trails have a problem with branding and recognition? Independence Mayor Weir and the City Council think so and have hired the marketing firm ChandlerThinks of Franklin, Tennessee to develop a "streamlined branding strategy and identity" for Independence with a price tag of $50,000.

Independence will now join the ranks of Danville, Kentucky and Perry, Georgia as cities that use ChandlerThinks to "create a sense of place and assists brands in developing their strongest voice."

It's not just a new logo that ChandlerThinks will be developing. On her Facebook page, Mayor Weir responded to commenters that, "There is much more to it than designing a logo. It is promote our great city and attract people here to visit, work and live," and that improving our branding and image will entice people to come here because, "city visitors and newcomers contribute to our economy to let us do more basic services."

In hiring a marketing firm to develop a new streamlined logo and image, the city stated that there are more than 40 separate logos used by various departments in their marketing efforts. One city department that won't need the help of ChandlerThinks is the Health Department, which will be completely disbanded by July in order to save the city $375,000 a year. Thirteen employees were terminated early in March, with ten other positions getting the axe in coming weeks. Jackson County and other city departments will take over the vital functions formerly handled by the Health Department.

The Inter-City News invites readers to assist the city and ChandlerThinks by submitting ideas for logo designs and slogans that will be printed in a future issue. A $25 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to the most amusing submission, with two $10 Amazon Gift Cards to be awarded to the runners up! Send your ideas to editor@inter-citynews.com .

Gambling on election results used to be legal in the state of Missouri and in the early 20th century elections were made even more interesting by the amounts of money being wagered in pool rooms, taverns, and anywhere a bookmaker could be found that would give odds on the candidates. Hotel clerks handled thousands of dollars bet by wealthy residents and travelers, especially during national elections, but municipal races never failed to bring out local gamblers with a "lot of heart."

Even the candidates got in on the action with a peculiar tradition that played out over and over again each election cycle back in the day, as this 1908 article from the Kansas City Journal shows about the race for Independence City Marshal:

April 12, 1908 WEARING HIS NEW STAR.Independence Marshal Given Wheelbarrow Rideby Defeated Candidate.

J. J. Hammontree, a defeated candidate for city marshal of Independence, wheeled Robert Combs, the successful candidate, around the square yesterday morning. The new marshal had on his new uniform and a very large star of authority. After the trip around the square, which was enjoyed by a large crowd, the wheelbarrow was placed on auction and purchased by Colonel Moses Hanton for $4.50.

October 6, 2017

EDITORS' NOTE: The City of Independence has spent more than a decade forming committees and making elaborate plans to improve Fairmount and turn it into a trendy business district, yet very little has been done during this time to address the obvious problems that have existed for years. Flooding, lack of proper sidewalks, public safety, and economic problems are ignored as plans are being drawn up for such projects as a new park, a possible roundabout on 24 Highway, walking trails and so forth. The City Council is now forming a new committee that is said to be making the FINAL decision on how to improve this area. Contact the City Council using the contact information found at this link and let them know what we really need!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!By Aimee Worley

Who is to blame for the flooding of 24 Highway and Northern Boulevard?

For 5 years now the businesses on this small stretch of 24 Highway have had to deal with major flooding anytime heavy storms or flash flooding is forecasted. Thelma Jordan, owner of Fairmount Liquors, Mark Cosgrove of the Best Buy Car Company, along with the car wash have to move into high gear and move their products to higher ground.

Fairmount Liquors always gets the worst with thousands of products which must be removed or raised up to 4 and a half feet as flood water along with mud fill her store. She has had to suffer multiple losses. Enough is enough.

No one wants to take responsibility, not the City of Independence, the City of Sugar Creek, nor even MODot (Missouri Department of Transportation) which is responsible for 24 Highway and its storm drains.

This reporter, who grew up in this area and has never lived further than 3 miles from here knows that someone is to blame. I have done some investigating because I know there is a major problem and I have come up with the only conclusion.

Over the past couple of years everyone has pointed to the Best Buy Car Company, but as I was investigating I discovered the water that flows under the highway is failing, but not on the Sugar Creek side. 180 feet behind Best Buy is a ravine that is collapsing. The City of Sugar Creek purchased old smoke stacks from Standard Oil to use around the city as culverts.

Old Standard Oil Smokestacks were converted
into drainage culverts in 1961.

I counted over five in different places around town. Well those old smoke stacks are failing. As I investigated on Saturday, August 26, I found heavy drainage pouring out of one of the old stacks, along with trees falling, rocks being washed away with the amount of water moving out and into Sugar Creek on its way to empty into the Missouri River.

The ravine and stagnant, infested water on the south side of 24 Highway keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s also creating another pond on the west side of Northern Blvd. It flooded the Full Gospel Church, which suffered extensive losses.

The City of Independence stated in 2015 that they along with MODot think that the culvert is working properly and it isn’t their problem. I believe they are wrong and it’s time for them to spend their money on taking care of the businesses that have been affected by this problem. We don’t need a park or a roundabout to improve the area. Fix what is broken first. Enough is enough.

As their pastor, Rev. Doyle Ankrom, lay suffering in the hospital from stage 4 lung cancer, the parishioners of the Full Gospel Assembly church in Fairmount were desperately coping with the flooding of August 21 and 22 that completely destroyed the church’s basement and everything that was stored there.

Church members trudged through mud and shoveled wet sheet rock, while others spent many hours trying to salvage priceless artifacts including the Pastor’s extensive collection of gospel recordings, many of which were recorded by Reverend Ankrom’s own gospel recording groups over the course of decades.

Church Member Pat Pace spends a Sundaymorning removing wet sheetrock from thechurch’s basement destroyed by the flooding.

The church has had more than its share of weather-related problems in the past. In May of 2013 a storm tore the roof and steeple off of the church’s building and flooding has been a problem for the church for years. In the past high water in the parking lot prevented the church from holding services but it wasn’t until the recent heavy rains of late August that water actually entered the building, flooding the basement up to the ceiling.

Church members trying to save Pastor Doyle Ankrom’s gospel record collection, many of which were recorded by his singing groups.

On September 13 Reverend Ankrom passed away. His wife Sharin has taken his place as the interim Pastor of the congregation, and neither flood nor loss will stop the Full Gospel Assembly from their mission of serving the Lord and serving the local community.

Twice a month the church hosts a free Saturday breakfast, sometimes serving more than 300 members of the community. Bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, and anything one could hope for in a good breakfast are served to anyone who is hungry for food and/or fellowship. Their extension ministry across the street is open at this time, providing household items to people who need them. Ground has been broken to expand the Fellowship Hall so that more people can be served.

You can help the Full Gospel Assembly church in rebuilding by sending donations to 10537 E 6th St, Independence, MO 64053, or to donate building materials contact Connie Cunningham at dccunningham@att.net

FOR SALE: 84,814 square feet of prime commercial real estate land (once the old motel buildings are removed by the current owner) on heavily trafficked U.S. 24 Highway, just a little over a mile east of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. This is a GREAT retail development opportunity for investors wanting to get in on the ground floor of the inevitable Truman Library Corridor revitalization project. Interested investors should contact Wally Bredemeier at (816) 302-8554 of CEAH Real Estate.

In the years before I-70 began carrying motorists east and west across the country, U.S. Route 24 Highway, known as Independence Avenue in these parts back then, was a major transportation route for people traveling by car.

Sometime around 1950, Queen City Court opened along this road as a first-rate motor lodge, offering air conditioning, television sets, telephones, a swimming pool, and just about any amenity a weary traveler could hope for in a place to take a break from the road or a place to stay while visiting President Harry Truman's hometown.

In 1964 the motel was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Smith and the name was changed to the Queen City Motel.

Around the same time, the Queen City Restaurant was opened next door, where the Fraternal Order of Eagles building is now. The restaurant was one of the few restaurants in Independence to be open 24 hours a day, and was popular for its fried chicken and steak dinners. The Queen City Restaurant closed its doors in 1974.

After the Sisk family sold the motel in the 1980s, the ownership of Queen City changed hands a number of times and the quality of the 24- Highway landmark diminished over the decades that followed.

Queen City was finally closed by the Sugar Creek Police Department in 2015. Numerous complaints about criminal activity going on there led to an investigation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies. On the morning of July 16, 2015, police raided the motel, making 17 arrests and closing Queen City once and for all. Demolition is planned to begin any day now.

We asked readers to send us ideas for the revitalization of 24 Highway and Sterling and received the following email:

I think a senior living complex, with shopping, health care, transportation, recreation. In this time there is a high demand for an affordable easy living safe place to spend the rest of their days out.There is no place like this in this part of town. This complex would bring in new families in the houses that seniors have been living here all their lives and bring a year round income.

Make our area a place where families want to live. Dollars stores only bring down the areas. It’s a great location. You can get anywhere in the KC Metro within 20 minutes (theater, music, sports).Make our area more welcoming. Bring up properly values.Just my thoughts.

Once the home to Standard State Bank and the Inter-City Press, which published the original Inter-City News, the building at the corner of 24 Highway and Huttig in Fairmount will soon be demolished. It became home to Standard State Bank in 1939, the bank’s fourth location since its incorporation in 1921. Before the bank moved into this building, it was located across the street where Huttig meets Cedar, in the small brick and stone building that still has bars on the doors and windows.

In 1972 Standard State Bank built a new location with drive-through services up the road at 10725 E U.S 24 Highway. By 1974 all banking business operations at the building above had ceased and the Inter-City Press, which had operated out of the basement, relocated to 501 W Lexington in Independence.

The old bank building, located at 10110 E U.S. 24 Highway, remained mostly vacant until the 1980s. The building was occupied by a company called "The Wallpaper People"” between 1983 and 1985. In 1986 this building became the home of the Roadrunner Video Club, where people could rent VHS videos of all kinds. Family-friendly movies filled the main part of the old bank building, while the "Adult Video" section was relegated to the old bank vault in the back. Despite the presence of a Blockbuster Video store up the road at the corner of 24 Highway and Sterling, Roadrunner Video continued to do business there until 1997.

Various other businesses and enterprises moved in and out of the building over the next two decades, but the building has become so dilapidated and unsafe that it must be demolished.

The undefeated Van Horn Falcons Men's Varsity Soccer Team brought home the coveted Kansas City Cup, winning eight games in ten days and beating Lincoln Prep in the finals on September 9, 2017. The Falcons, led by head coach Jesus Rodriguez, won by a score of 3-2, scoring the game winning goal with 33 seconds left in double overtime.

Named the next week by HyVee and Fox 4 Sports as “Team of the Week,” the Falcons have continued undefeated and on September 25 Van Horn Forward Favian Valenzuela (senior) was named HyVee’s Player of the Week.

With an overall record so far of 17-0, the Falcons are hoping to move on to the State Championship at the end of October.